Plastic Tree World Tour Interviews

GERMAN INTERVIEW: July 7th, 2006

Plastic Tree gave a concert July 7th, 2006, in Berlin in connection to their world tour. JaME had the chance to ask the band a few questions.

"Fifteen minutes, max" they told us when we walked into the small room behind the Columbia Club. Inside, Ryutaro and Tadashi were already waiting for us. Although the weather was pretty hot, the two of them were in a really good mood.

We introduced ourselves again and quickly started the interview.

How is your tour going so far?
Tadashi: We've only had our opening acts in Japan and we’re going to play in Europe for the first time tonight. We're really nervous. Our Japanese fans are happy for us and wished us good luck and told us to have fun. That gave us some strength. We think Germany is a good place to start the world tour because everyone is motivated around here and there are many things happening in the German music industry right now.

Did you know that you have many fans outside of Japan before coming here?
Tadashi: Yes. We've gotten a lot of fan mail from other countries and we found the possibility of playing in other countries amazing. It's kind of like a dream coming true. We are really excited to be able to be here.

What are you going to do after you’ve finished the tour?
Ryutaro: We’ve got more time after this and we are going to use it for new songs and recordings. Besides that, we plan to visit the onsen with our Japanese fan club!

Tadashi, you are the cartoonist of the band. Where do you get your ideas, like Akira being a mummy, from?
Tadashi: (laughs) I started drawing a long time ago. I like the mix between cute and horror and try to connect it. That’s what’s happening when I draw.

(At this point the interview is interrupted by laughter because Ryutaro's hair got stuck in his electronic mini fan.)

Ryutaro, what would you do if you weren’t a musician?
Ryutaro: I would travel through Japan, write poems and sell them in little books. I think that's a nice idea.

Now the word is yours: What do you want to tell your German fans?
Tadashi: We see the chance to gain more fans with our upcoming concerts. Then, we could come more often and it would be fun. So, all you fans out there, please be nice to us!
Ryutaro: We are in Germany and Berlin for the first time. We fell in love with this city and the landscape and we were touched by the nice people over here.

To the fans: We will work really hard and do our best to leave a good impression! I hope you like us enough so that we can come back soon.

Thank you for the interview.
Ryutaro & Tadashi: (in German) Thank you. Good bye!


FINNISH INTERVIEW: July 11th, 2006

We met Ryutaro, Akira, Tadashi and Buchi from Plastic Tree on Tuesday after the autograph session, just before the ending of their European tour, which was a concert in Finland. We shook hands, introduced ourselves and took a seat. The band was sitting on a sofa opposite of us. They all smoked cigarettes, drank Moomin-soda and were polite, happy, giggling, eager and cheerful in every aspect which actually felt a little bit strange when we were watching the concert later and recalling their certain personalities onstage.

You’re going to have your last concert in Europe soon. What are your feelings right now?
Ryutaro: We have already performed in Berlin and Paris now. While we haven't perfored yet here in Helsinki, I can already say that all the cities were really wonderful and essentially awesome places to spend time. Also, all the concerts by this far have gone well and we all are very satisfied. Actually, we would like to do lots of more things here in Europe and that’s why my own mood is a little bit melancholic.

What did you know about Finland beforehand and did your images change now that you’re here?
Ryutaro: (thinks) I wasn’t really informed about Finland and its culture beforehand yet. I had heard about ”bright night” in summertime and the awesome lakes. Unfortunately, we didn’t have chance to see these lakes but I think the sea covered that. (laughs) (note: the gig took place by the seashore) The reality coincided perfectly with my own image.

Have the Japanese and European audiences differed from each other thus far?
Tadashi: Yes, they have. I can’t say precisely what is it but I think the European audiences might be a bit keener and more interested during the whole gig.
Ryutaro: And that’s why it’s such a pleasure to be here!
(Tadashi and Ryutaro laugh)
Tadashi: There are differences but it’s hard to start and list them straight through. At least I can say that this has been a great experience for the whole band.

Are you performing in the same way you perform in Japan?
(everybody nods)
Tadashi: Practically yes, totally in the same way.

What do you think about your home country Japan? What’s the best thing there?
Tadashi: Well... (ponders such a long time and laughs) Firstly, I think that Japan is a very many-sided country. Everything in Japan like nature, culture and history is great.
Ryutaro: I think ”many-sided” is the perfect way to describe Japan.
Tadashi: And that’s why it’s hard to say what’s the best thing in Japan. Yet our country’s old culture is really important to me and I’m very interested in it. I can say that you, Finnish people, would be interested in it, too.
Ryutaro: I believe that now, in the 21st century, the old and the young culture of Japan are mixed together and I think it’s great. It’s Japan. (laughs)

What’s your favourite concert place? Do you prefer smaller or bigger places?
Ryutaro: Big halls, small clubs...both are more than awesome. (smiles) They both have good and bad sides so I don’t want to separate them from each other.

What annoys you most about each other? (laughs)
(the band laughs loudly)
Akira: Everything!
(more laughter)

Oh really? (laughs)
Ryutaro: Well, not actually. (still laughing) Of course there are lots of annoying and negative sides with everyone but we have been together for so long... As a matter of fact, we’re spending more time with each other than with our own families so that’s why Plastic Tree feels more like a family. When one thinks about how their family behaves, I think you can get the point easily.
Akira: Everyone has bad days but you can get over them and you just can’t dismiss your family although you’re fighting with them occassionally.

Why did you change your label?
Tadashi: It was all because of the time timing. We had the feeling ”Now! It’s time to change from this label to another!”

Understandable.
Tadashi: Yes and in Japan the differences between indies and major bands are fading away. Additionally, I had a feeling that with our new label we would be able to achieve what we’re chasing after.

Buchi, you’ve concentrated for just playing the drums so far. Do you have any plans to compose some songs?
Buchi: Maybe. In the future.

Ryutaro, how did you become interested in composing?
Ryutaro: Earlier, I wasn't satisfied with myself nor with my musical expression. Yet, when we started Plastic Tree and talked about what kind of music we would like to do...my own likings became clearer and I as finally able to compose what I felt.

Is it a conscious choice that you’re singing in a lower pitch? You used to sing all songs with a higher pitched tone.
Ryutaro: (keeps nodding and smiles happily) Yes, it is. It’s just because of style and I know it. (everyone laughs)

Tadashi, you’re the leader of the band. Is your role different in the band because of it?
Tadashi: (laughs) In my opinion, I don’t have any specific role compared to the others. Actually, it felt funny when you called me the leader. (laughs) We make all decisions together but maybe my leadership appears only then when I’m summing up and collecting everyone’s opinions together and announcing the final decision. It’s kind of a complicated process and hard to explain.

Akira, are your songs better than Tadashi’s? (laughs)
(everyone laughs for a long time)
Akira: Well... (laughs)
(Ryutaro wipes some tears from his eyes)
Akira: We don’t have any competition between the composers.
Tadashi: Thank god for that! (laughs)
Akira: There are three people composing songs in this band and every time, without exception, like each other's compositions more than anything. (the band keeps laughing and Akira and Ryutaro whisper to each other with a smile on their faces)

Let's end this with a funny question. About your PV for Rocket, do you know why the bird's aren't getting electrocuted on the power lines?
(the band laughs louder)
Ryutaro: I have no idea! (laughs even more) But if you do know, tell us!

Thank you for your time, it’s been great meeting you and your lives are always great! (in Japanese)
Everyone: Thank you very much! (in Finnish)

A big thank you goes out to Plastic Tree and their staff, Helinä Toikkanen (photos), Nosturi and JrockSuomi.